Elephants begin journey to take part in Dasara festivities

Mysore, Sep 6 (UNI) The first batch of six elephants started their journey (Gajapayana) from Veeranahosahalli in this district of Karnataka to take part in the world famous nine-day Dasara festivities beginning in the City of Palaces from October 12.

As per tradition, Karnataka Minister for Cooperation G T Deve Gowda, who is also the District Incharge Minister, offered 'pooja' to the elephants before they started their journey.

The first batch of elephants will carry 850 kg golden 'howdah' for the ninth consecutive year. The elephants had been shifted from the jungle camp at Moorkal in Nagarahole national park to Veeranahosahalli.

The next batch of pachyderms will arrive in the city during the second week of October. All the elephants will be housed at the Mysore Palace courtyard and will undergo rehearsals everyday before the grand dasara procession.

It was customary to shift the elephants to the palace courtyard at least a month before the festivities for acclimatisation.

Meanwhile, preparations are on for the festivities.

Certain events have been planned to attract more tourists from across the country.

The spectacular fireworks display atop the Chamundi hills will be a real feast for the visitors.

The Mahouts of Nagarahole forest areas, who had threatened to boycott the Dasara festivities, demanding fulfillment of their long pending demands, have withdrawn their threat and joined the 'Gajapayana'.

Mr Gowda assured that their demand for regularisation would be considered soon.

UNI